Bluray - do you have any interest?

[ajgenard]

The complete series release of The Dick Van Dyke Show on bluray this past week marks the first classic sitcom to see a BR release. I'm really curious as to how many people here have any interest in seeing more classic sitcoms on bluray.

[dakert]

I am very satisfied with regular dvds but if my DVD player ever quits I would get a Blu Ray player only because they also play regular dvds. My Sony dvd player is 11 years old and I never had a problem with it.

[robyrob]

i don't see the point in buying a high-definition version of something that was never filmed in hi-def; you are just stretching the image

- also I don't trust Sony and their Bluray licensing; who is to say they won't just brick your player and disks at any time they want just depending on their current interpretation of "ownership" and "digital rights management"

[robby76]

I hate blu-ray packaging more than anything!!! I prefer my bigger cased full artwork dvd releases! They look more like a collector's item.

[Regulus]

Right Now, the only TV Series I have on Blu-Ray is Star Trek (The Original Series) - Which has both the original and remastered SFX. I purchased it as a Christmas "Splurge" to complete my Collection, having acquired the other four "Live" series earlier for a considerable discount at a Garage Sale.

If I get a TV Show or Movie on Blue Ray it's either:

1. I found it in the Bargain Bin

2. Someone gave it to me as a gift

3. It replaces a VHS or DVD which "Died" (The latest was my copy of The Polar Express, the DVD of which had "Freeze Issues" that I couldn't resolve on three different players, so I had no choice but to replace it).

[AKA]

Originally Posted by robyrob

i don't see the point in buying a high-definition version of something that was never filmed in hi-def; you are just stretching the image.

Actually, anything that was shot on film (instead of videotape) can be mastered in true high-definition and look just as good as things filmed digitally in HD today. I have Blu-rays of movies up to 75 years old that look absolutely stunning in 1080p.

Also, nothing I own or have seen on Blu-ray that was produced in a 4x3 aspect ratio is "stretched." It's all pillarboxed, with the image in the middle of the screen and "black bars" filling the unused portion on each side (screenshots below).

[Chelsea]

When it comes down to it, the real difference is between shows that were recorded to videotape and shows that were recorded to film. If it was recorded straight to tape, with no stop on film whatsoever, you're going to be working with master copies that top out at the standard 480 resolution. Even on an HD medium like Blu-ray, though, you're still getting a level of sharpness and picture clarity within that resolution that isn't available elsewhere. 480 native resolution video on Bluray is still going to be superior to to 480 native resolution on DVD, albeit the difference is relatively minor.

The thing is, though, that a lot of shows (especially dramas, but even quite a few sitcoms) started out on film before being recorded to tape for final editing and broadcast. some you might not even think were recorded to film, were. And in all cases where the original film masters still exist (and that's quite a few cases), the resolution on the film masters is usually 1080 if not even higher. Some masters are in the 4:3 version of 1080, others are actually in widescreen, as that's what films were already shooting in.

The only reason you haven't seen a gigantic rush to release the HD versions of older library material on Bluray is cost vs. income. It costs money to track down the film masters, occasionally do some cleaning work, and press the discs. Of shows that have already been put out within the last 10 years. All while digital streaming is right on the heels of the entire physical media market.

[gilligan fanatic]

I only have one classic show on bluray and that is The Twlight Zone and it looks so good. I would consider buying a show on bluray if I didn't have it already on DVD or if ot was one of my all time favorites like GI.

[robyrob]

Originally Posted by Brad

Actually, anything that was shot on film (instead of videotape) can be mastered in true high-definition and look just as good as things filmed digitally in HD today. I have Blu-rays of movies up to 75 years old that look absolutely stunning in 1080p.

Also, nothing I own or have seen on Blu-ray that was produced in a 4x3 aspect ratio is "stretched." It's all pillarboxed, with the image in the middle of the screen and "black bars" filling the unused portion on each side (screenshots below).

- see that's the thing - just because it "can" be remastered in true HD, doesn't necessarily mean that they will; in some cases they just use the dvd transfers and up-convert, it all depends on what they are actually using for the source material and how far they are willing to go to get it right (and how much they are willing to spend up front without knowing how well the item is going to sell - although you would think that the current dvd sales would be a good indicator). - there have been far too many cases where a show's dvd release turns out to come from syndication tapes rather than the original source, so it pays to check it out first.

[MickeyMac]

From what I understand you need a high def TV for a Blu Ray player. Frankly I am not that impressed with high def TV, and all the TV's now are flatscreen and I hate flatscreen TV. I probably wont be getting a Blu Ray player in the foreseeable future.

[loaferman]

I hope DVD players will be around for a long time to come. I have a pretty sizable collection of TV on DVD's and not much interest in buying them again. Compared to how they used to look on non-cable TV, DVD is plenty clear. Whenever I run across a decent DVD player on sale I get it if I have a few extra bucks to have backups for the 2 I use now. I have a bunch of VHS tapes but no good quality VHS player, the one's you find in stores now are crap.

[AKA]

I'm a strong believer that everything shot on film--television or theatrical movie--should be remastered in HD, in the highest resolution possible, if only in the name of preservation. For the nonbelievers in this thread, the screenshots I posted up there speak for themselves. If you still don't want to adapt to HD, that's fine; HD programming will still look good downconverted on your old tube set.

[OH Nuts!]

I'm still wowed by DVDs. If my combo unit croaks, I would probably buy a blue ray combo unit if not too pricey. Otherwise a standalone blue ray player. I only have 3 VHS tapes at this point anyways.

[704Hauser]

Originally Posted by Brad

I'm a strong believer that everything shot on film--television or theatrical movie--should be remastered in HD, in the highest resolution possible, if only in the name of preservation. For the nonbelievers in this thread, the screenshots I posted up there speak for themselves. If you still don't want to adapt to HD, that's fine; HD programming will still look good downconverted on your old tube set.

I totally agree with this, as for sitcoms shot on videotape, Blu-Ray won't enhance the quality by much as opposed to DVD.

[AKA]

And to alleviate any fears, DVD isn't going away anytime soon. Blu-ray is no more a threat to DVD than Laserdisc was to VHS. DVD has already survived the Blu-ray format longer than VHS survived DVD.